Pregnancy outcomes in urban black South African women aged 35 years and older

Abstract

We measured maternal and fetal outcomes for black South African women of age 35 years and above, compared with younger controls. The study was carried out at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Maternity Hospital and the Soweto Community Health Centres, that provide maternity services for urban black pregnant women. This was a retrospective pregnancy cohort, comparing pregnant women aged 35 and above with a control group aged 20-29 years. Early pregnancy losses (<20 weeks) were excluded. There were 1047 women in each arm of the study. Frequencies of hypertension (22.8%), gestational diabetes (0.9%), and prelabour rupture of the membranes (6.9%) were significantly higher for older women. Perinatal mortality rates (42/1000 vs. 33/1000) did not differ significantly. Antepartum admission, induction of labour, caesarean section and neonatal admission were required more frequently in older women. We conclude that pregnancy at age 35 years and above is often difficult and expensive, requiring hospital based interventions to maintain a low perinatal mortality rate.